The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] convened its ordinary National Executive Committee [NEC] meeting on the 02nd and 03rd of April 2025. The NEC considered the international context, national political and socio-economic situation and organisational matters affecting our members, workers and the working class in general.
The NEC took place in the wake of the Cwecwe alleged rape case, wherein the justice system has not made any progress in the case since October 2024. The NEC condemned the lack of progress in the case and called for the justice system to move with speed to bring to book the perpetrators of the heinous act and send a clear message to society that Gender Based Violence, Femicide and Violence directed at Women and Children has no place in our society. Equally, the NEC condemned the bungling of the Omotoso Case by the National Prosecuting Authority.
The NEC agreed that our National Office Bearers should lead a program working with the Department of Social Development and Education to visit and assist the family of Cwecwe as part of implementing our gender policy and also to provide psychological and psycho-social support for the girl and the family.
International Situation
The NEC discussed the rapidly evolving international situation that is marked by intensified geopolitical tensions, economic instability and growing movements challenging the status quo. In this regard, the NEC agreed it is imperative for the progressive forces to deepen solidarity efforts, strengthen internationalist alliances and build independent working-class power structures to challenge the prevailing system of exploitation and oppression.
The NEC condemned the direct imperialist political attacks on South Africa spearheaded by belligerent right-wing Trump Administration following the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case of Israeli genocide against Palestinians and also the misinformation peddled by Afriforum, a right-wing organisation that harbours secessionist tendencies and is claiming an imaginary anti-Afrikaner genocide by a democratic black government in South Africa. The NEC agreed for the national union to express a much more vocal position on foreign policy decisions including, an independent assessment of US-SA foreign policy impact, on the AGOA and bilateral trade.
The NEC reiterated its unwavering solidarity support with the people of Palestine as Israel continues its military onslaught which has worsened the situation in Gaza with the death toll surpassing 50 208.
The NEC discussed the unfolding developments in the African Continent, with a particular focus on the situation in Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] and the situation in Zimbabwe. The NEC agreed to assess the implications of the withdrawal of South African armed forces from the DRC and the threats it poses to regional peace and security, whilst allowing the M23 rebels and Kagame’s Rwanda government to run amok, stealing DRC resources in the interest of Western imperialism and its monopolies.
Furthermore, the NEC agreed to continue offering solidarity support to the Agricultural Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) in its strike demanding a living wage and improvement of working conditions.
The NEC concluded that the African continent should take an advantage of Trump’s absence following the Executive Orders to consolidate their commitment to protect and nurture their minerals and also to do trade here in Africa over relying to US.
The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the World Federation of Trade Unions [WFTU] and 76th anniversary of the Trade Union International Public Service and Allied [TUI PS&A]. In this regard, the NEC agreed to celebrate the anniversaries in a form of an International Seminar at our National Organising, Servicing and Collective Bargaining Conference in August 2025.
National Political Situation
On the national political situation, the NEC made reflections and analysed the state of our National Democratic Revolution [NDR]. The NEC reiterated the position of the union that ultimately the extent to which the post-1994 socioeconomic transformation represent an advance would have to be measured in terms of how closer it is getting us towards the realisation of the vision of Freedom Charter. Therefore, as a radical socioeconomic transformation programme and vision of the NDR, our cherished Freedom Charter remains the yardstick in measuring and determining whether or not the NDR is still on course.
Indeed, the NEC debunked disgraceful fallacy by the ANC leadership that eight of the ten clauses of the Freedom Charter have been fully implemented with the two, on wealth ownership and land redistribution, still a work in progress yet the material conditions and the lived experiences of our people reflect otherwise. When up to five million of our people still live in shacks, when about 12. 291 million people are unemployment, when there are still public hospital fees imposed on the poor and South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world.
The NEC concluded that the claim that eight of the ten clauses of the Freedom Charter have been fully implemented, except for the two on the redistribution wealth ownership and land, poses a fundamental question of the state of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), the level of revolutionary consciousness, and commitment to advance the revolution, at least as far as it is the ANC’s historic mission.
The meeting agreed that the union must develop a leaflet capturing our assessment on the achievements of the Freedom Charter that must be located within the context of our conclusive view about the National Democratic Revolution as part of celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, 70th anniversary of SACTU and the 40th Anniversary of the founding of COSATU.
Equally, the NEC welcomed the outcomes of the South African Community Party 5th Special National Congress as the party pivots to contest elections, build a popular left front and a powerful socialist movement of the workers and the poor. The NEC reiterated its position on supporting the SACP in contesting elections independently. In this regard, the union will arrange an urgent bilateral with the SACP Secretariat to establish the work in progress on contesting the 2026 local government.
The NEC noted that the government of national unity remains fragile as it frequently appears to be on the brink of collapse whenever there are vehement policy disagreements, primarily on account of the DA. Therefore, we may yet find ourselves back to the debate on the formation of a new GNU given the antics of the DA, especially as we get closer to the 2026 local government elections.
Socio-Economic Assessment
The NEC noted that the South African economy remains stagnant, mainly afflicted by rolling austerity measures since 2012. Austerity has reduced the influence of the state in driving economic development.
The meeting took place when the National Assembly had voted to adopt the 2025 Budget framework following the Budget Statement by Minister of Finance. The NEC assessed the budget statement and condemned the increase of 0.5% in VAT this year followed by another 0.5% the following year, bringing the VAT rate to 16% in 2026/2027. This is an indication of how far removed the government is from the struggles facing our people. Despite the commitment to ensure the zero rated items are not included alongside in the VAT rate increase, the general impact on working class families will translate in another sharp increase in the cost of living.
In the overall the budget barely represent a shift away from the fiscal framework of austerity as the consolidated spending grows by a mere 1.1% over the medium-term, taking into account the medium-term inflation forecasts. The Treasury has been fixated on following a strict fiscal framework of austerity, the objective of which is to reduce the deficit, attain a primary budget surplus and to contain the public debt amidst deepening socioeconomic crises of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Indeed, workers and the working class would be the hardest hit with this intransigently attitude of government of insisting on the VAT hike. The voting patterns on the fiscal framework notably supporting the call for the government to find alternative sources of funding within 30 days to replace the VAT hike, have made clear the balance of power in favour of the exclusion of the DA, which has arrogantly insisted that there can be no government in our country at this stage without its inclusion. The time now requires decisive implementation of their exclusion.
The NEC agreed that the union must consider pursuing a campaign within the framework of popular left front on high cost of living, deepening levels of unemployment, poverty, and social inequalities.
The NEC discussed in detail the state of post-school education and training sector, and concluded that as part of our political project of building popular fronts in the terrains in which we are located, the union must recast its approach to education. The NEC welcomed the increased allocation of R10 billion to the Early Childhood Development, which amounts to 17.8% growth over the medium-term. Equally, the NEC welcomed planned increase in TVET infrastructure allocation by 26.3% over the medium-term.
However, the NEC strongly condemned Treasury for its plans to cut allocations for infrastructure in higher education institutions by a devastating 12.5% over the medium-term when there is a shortfall of over 500 000 student beds in universities. In this regard, the union will raise and demand proactive infrastructure plans to address funding for accommodation, including coordination with municipalities and universities.
On Healthcare, the NEC noted the shutdown of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through an executive order by Trump to suspend the USAID. The NEC called the government to explore opportunities inside BRICS for alternative aid funding particularly from China.
Furthermore, the NEC noted that about R28.9 billion has been allocated to sustain the employment of 9, 300 healthcare workers – to fund the hiring of 800 post-community service doctors, and to ensure the availability of essential medicines in public healthcare facilities, 44.7% of the R941.5 billion health budget is directed toward District Health Services, particularly primary healthcare facilities such as Clinics and Community Health Centres.
The budget provides for total infrastructure allocation of R37.4 billion over the MTEF period, which falls far short of the required resources for the maintenance and upgrading of the prevalent dilapidated infrastructure. This undermines the preparatory work to ensure the accreditation of public healthcare institutions ahead of the creation of the NHI Fund.
The NEC condemned the fact that Health Budget does not explicitly outline how much is specifically allocated for the compensation of the Community Healthcare Workers in the context of compliance with the order issued by Labour Court in our landmark case. However, there are positive discussions underway with the Minister of Health.
The NEC resolved to respond when Minister of Health and Education respectively present and table their Budget Vote.
On the Public Service, the NEC accepted by report presented on the recently concluded Public Service Wage Negotiations wherein the union was mandated by members not to sign a multi-term agreement that will reverse the gains of workers.
Organisation Assessment
The 2024 Central Executive Committee declared the year 2025 as the year of Provincial Congresses. The union is in the processes of convening successful provincial congresses as per the directive of the CEC of December 2024. The congresses are scheduled from the month of April until June 2025.
Lastly, the union will be convening its National Bargaining, Servicing and Organising Conference in August 2025 as a platform to review our national bargaining strategy across sectors.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
